Why do crabs walk sideways?
If whales, with their monumental beautiful brains and singularly extraordinary perception, could tell us everything they know, what would they tell us?
Why was Orpheus and Eurydice’s love doomed when their only crime was to love?
What if love is not the answer?
What if God and the Devil do exist and God chose Lucifer as the most talented at teaching humankind the hardest lessons, to be the keeper of the balance of power, to all the more pour light into the world? What if Lucifer wants to love but is forbidden?
Why does the truth hurt? And when it does, is it a good pain because the truth is absolute? Is truth absolute? What is a good pain?
Why do continents separate soul mates? If we are no longer allowed to travel for the sake of the planet’s survival, how do we meet our soul mates then?
Why, after it has rained, do I always step on that one paving slab that sends water shooting up my leg?
Why do people hate spiders when all they did was exist?
How often have you experienced zielschmerz?
Why does kindness make people cry?
Why have I never read Vonnegut? Why does everyone say you have to read Vonnegut? What is the big deal with Vonnegut?
Is it possible for a true artist to become a successful businessperson without compromising the authenticity of their art?
Do all poets experience ambedo?
Why are some people destined to be alone? Is destiny an unstoppable force or always a choice, or both?
When was the last time you experienced an ecstatic shock?
Why are clichés a bad thing?
Why does writing always make me feel better?
© N Nazir 2021
NaPoWriMo Prompt: to write a poem that poses a series of questions. I have also done yesterday’s belated prompt by including three concepts from the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.
– ambedo: n. a kind of melancholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details – raindrops skittering down a window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your coffee – briefly soaking in the experience of being alive, an act that is done purely for its own sake.
– ecstatic shock: n. the surge of energy upon catching a glance from someone you like—a thrill that starts in your stomach, arcs up through your lungs and flashes into a spontaneous smile—which scrambles your ungrounded circuits and tempts you to chase that feeling with a kite and a key.
– Zielschmerz: n. the exhilarating dread of finally pursuing a lifelong dream, which requires you to put your true abilities out there to be tested on the open savannah, no longer protected inside the terrarium of hopes and delusions that you created in kindergarten and kept sealed as long as you could, only to break in case of emergency.
Sunra Rainz 
WOW Nina! 👏👏👏 I love the title, the picture and the poem…of course! ❤🌷
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Thanks babe! 💗🎑 Feel free to answer to any of the questions! 😄 Hope you’re well this pink Supermoon, my dear 💕
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I will! La vie en rose. 💗
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Oui, vraiment 💗
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Experiencing “zielschmerz” often these days. I like this because you have touches of all different things. Philosophy, religion, sociology. I like cliches because it gives you a chance to twist them in a new way. Fun title, too!
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Thank you, Ben! ☀️ I do enjoy your commentaries. Oh that dictionary of sorrows is a joy to read! Yeah I don’t mind clichés. They exist because a pattern has established itself. Something became the norm. But poets prefer surprising language, I guess. Sometimes the cliché might be the most apt expression.
Thank you👌
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Yeah, sometimes the cliche isn’t the best to use. But sometimes it is. And sometimes you can turn it on it’s head. I actually wrote a novel series a few years ago that uses cliches instead of running them. I think there is so much more we can do with cliches. And popular songs, after all, mostly work through cliches. You’re welcome. “Dictionary of sorrows” that is a great title for a poem, song, or novel!
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I like the idea of turning clichés on their head, especially as they can have ambiguous meanings. *she says trying very hard to think of an example now*!
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Haha. It’s funny that we struggle for examples sometimes when we want to use one. But you’re right. They can have ambiguous meanings, and it’s funny to look up the history of some of these idioms we use, and across languages we have many words that can’t be translated right. You reminded me just now of the philosophy of semantics. Words are so interesting!
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😄👌☀️
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This piece is cool also because it makes the reader have to think alongside of it, and kind of answer the questions. It’s like interactive poetry!
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Yes! 😄 I’d welcome answers to any of the questions, scientific, out there or using poetry prompts. As everyone’s response would be different. That would be cool 👍
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You’re right. That would be super interesting, because everyone answers a question differently mostly. That’s a good point. I never thought about that much even though it’s obvious. 🙂
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All wonderful questions, especially the Vonnegut one.
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Ha ha, thank you! They are all genuine questions of mine! Feel free to answer any 😄
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Oh yes, more valid questions. I like the Zielschmerz. Funny how you use past tense for spiders. And Vonnegut… You sound like you don’t urgently need him because you know already, but just for fun try his “Galapagos”.
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😂 Manja you’ve cracked me up today with your comments! I didn’t notice I’d put the spiders comment in past tense until you pointed it out. I guess because they’ve always been so hated for some reason and it’s not a new thing.
Thanks for the tip about Vonnegut! I’ve made a note. I nearly bought one of his books the other day but there were so many and I didn’t know which one to pick and got befuddled and changed my mind! I bought a Neil Gsiman one instead.
Appreciate your thoughts. So lovely that you read so many of my poems today, I am uplifted👌💕☀️
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Good to hear this, about being uplifted. I’m always uplifted by Vonnegut too, for example. As for Neil Gaiman, not always. I find his use of violence intolerable sometimes. But I haven’t read him much yet.
I’ll stick around and read you more promptly now. All well!
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I shall return the favour, dear Manja 💛☀️
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